Menu

Ireland should recognise Catalan independence – Carthy

Sinn Féin MEP Matt Carthy has said that the Declaration of Independence made by the Catalan Parliament should be recognised by the Irish Government.

He described today’s statement by the Department of Foreign Affairs refusing to acknowledge the democratic wishes of the people of Catalonia as a travesty and he urged Taoiseach Leo Varadkar to exert pressure on Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy to engage in direct dialogue with Catalan representatives.

Matt Carthy said.

“The right of nations to self-determination is fundamental and is a key point of international law.

“The Government of Spain must now engage in a peaceful process to agree a way forward that respects the rights of the Catalan people and avoids unnecessary conflict.

“The Catalan Government has sought such a process but this has not been reciprocated. It is time now for international intervention and assistance.

“The European Union has failed abysmally to show any political or moral leadership in relation to the situation in Catalonia.

“I reject the the statement by the President of the European Parliament Antonio Tajani which merely parrots the position of the Spanish Government.

“He has no authority to make that statement other than as an individual MEP as Parliament has never endorsed any position regarding Catalonia. Regardless, one European Parliament has no right in law to tell another that the position of its members are ‘illegal’.

“In 1919 when Dáil Éireann declared independence for Ireland not a single state recognised the Irish republic which the British declared illegal. What resulted was war, division and the partition of Ireland.

“It is a travesty that in relation to Catalonia, this Fine Gael Government ignores our country’s own history.

“The Irish Government should recognise the democratically expressed will of the people of Catalonia.

“The Taoiseach should urge the Spanish Prime Minister to engage in direct dialogue with Catalonia’s elected representatives”